Soundscape of a management and exploitation area of benthic resources in central Chile/Paisaje acustico de un area de manejo y explotacion de recursos bentonicos en Chile Central

Acoustic ecology is an emerging and poorly known field of research. Soundscape has been used to infer the behavior of several species in different environments and can serve as a reliable indicator of the habitat type and quality; also, it is believed that it is an important factor for larvae orientation in settlement areas. We used the passive acoustic method to evaluate the soundscape of a management and exploitation area of benthic resources, a rocky reef area in central Chile. It was possible to hear a continuous cracking sound during recording and underwater observations. We detected two distinct frequency bands with similar parameters during the night and day, a band between 90 and 300 Hz, which corresponded to the effects of sea waves (geophony), and a frequency band with a range of 1,500 to 2,700 Hz (biophony), with a fundamental frequency of 2,070 Hz. Both bands had similar energy (~88.0 dB re: 1V/pPa). These results show the relevant acoustic activity in the area, which may have important ecological implications for the recruitment of commercially important benthic resources. Keywords: bioacoustics, acoustic ecology, coastal zone, biophony, geophony, central Chile. La ecologia acustica es un campo de investigacion emergente y poco conocido. El paisaje acustico se ha utilizado para inferir el comportamiento de varias especies en diferentes ambientes y puede servir como un indicador confiable del tipo y calidad de habitat, ademas se considera un factor importante para la orientacion de larvas en zonas de asentamiento. Se utilizo el metodo acustico pasivo para evaluar el paisaje acustico de un area de manejo y explotacion de recursos bentonicos, en una zona de arrecife rocoso en el centro de Chile. Se escucho continuamente un crujido durante la grabacion y se efectuaron observaciones submarinas. Se detectaron dos bandas de frecuencia con parametros similares durante dia y noche, una banda entre 90 y 300 Hz, que correspondia a los efectos de las olas del mar (geofonico), y una banda de frecuencia con rango de 1.500 a 2.700 Hz (biofonicos), con la frecuencia fundamental de 2.070 Hz. Ambas bandas tenian energia similar (~88,0 dB re: 1V/[micro]Pa). Estos resultados muestran la relevante actividad acustica de la zona, que puede tener importantes implicancias ecologicas para el reclutamiento de recursos bentonicos de importancia comercial. Palabras clave: bioacustica, ecologia acustica, zona costera, biofonia, geofonia, Chile central.